Cigarette lighter using liquefied combustible gas as fuel



1963 KANAME ICHIKAWA ETAL 3,078, 10

CIGARETTE LIGHTER USING LIQUEFIED COMBUSTIBLE GAS AS FUEL 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Aug. 16, 1961 'I'I'I'II Feb. 19, 1963 KANAME lCHlKAWA ETAL3,078,010

CIGARETTE LIGHTER usmc LIQUEFIED COMBUSTIBLE GAS AS FUEL Filed Aug. 16,1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN EN'TORS United States Patent Japan Filed Aug.16, 1961, Ser. No. 131,855 Claims priority, application Japan Feb. 28,1961 4 Claims. (Cl. 222-3) The present invention relates to a cigarettelighter using liquefied combustible gas as fuel wherein the quan-.

tity of discharge fiow of the liquefied gas in a tank from a burner isadapted to be controlled by moving axially up and down a hollow movablevalve member being formed at its upper end with the burner thereof.

In the gas lighter referred to above, generally, a hollow movable valvemember is screw threaded in the inner periphery of a blinded cylindricalsleeve extending with its bottom portion into the tank, and the upperpart of the hollow movable valve member projecting upwardly beyond theopening of the cylindrical sleeve. An operating ring is attached on thevalve member by means of a spring washer or the like. By turning theoperating ring, the movable valve member is moved up and down within thesleeve. Accordingly, a venting member consisting of a resilient padmember contained at the bottom portion of the sleeve is compressed or isreleased from the pressure thereof, so as to control the quantity ofdischarge flow of gas through the movable valve member. For such means,the operating ring is moved up and down accompanied with the up and downmovement of the movable valve member. However, owing to the position ofthis operating ring on the end of the tank, when the upward movement ofthe movable valve member is effected for increasing a flux of gas byreleasing the pressure of the ventilating member, the operating ringproduces an unpleasant noise due to play in an upward and a downwarddirection between the tank and the spring washer which is attached tothe movable valve member to avoid the upward removement' of theoperating ring. Also, when the movable valve member is lowered forreducing the flux of gas, the operating ring is in contact with the wallof the tank, and finally the operating ring cannot be turned for afurther lowering movement of the movable valve member.

In such a form, a part of periphery of the operating ring may beoverhung outwardly to form a stopper. In such case, the operating ringmay be operated in such a manner that it cannot be turned except withina range of impacting with the front end of a wall of abearing providedon both sides of the wall of the tank. However, in such a case, theallowable capacity for turning of the operating ring, determined by thestopper and the wall of the bearing is not attained for one revolution,and consequently the control range for discharge gas flux is limited toa small range and it cannot be controlled above that limited range.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide acigarette lighter which avoids the disadvantages of the known apparatus.It is another object of the present invention to provide a constructionof a cigarette lighter in which even when the allowable capacity forturning the operating ring is determined, the movable valve member isadapted to be moved above the limited range so as to control freely thedischarge of the gas flux. Incidentally, even upon moving upwardly themovable valve member, the operating ring does not engage the wall of thetank, and also even upon lowering the movable valve member, theoperating ring is not urged strongly against the wall of the tank tosuch a degree, that it cannot be turned.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in thefollowing detailed description, the present invention will be clearlyunderstood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the flux control deviceof thegas lighter,

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to that shown in FIG. 1,yet in a different working position,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1, parts beingbroken away for better demonstration,

FIG.'4 is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part of a gaslighter disclosing another embodiment thereof,

FIGS. 5 and 6 are longitudinal sectional views of the embodiment shownin FIG. 4 in different operative positions,

FIG. 7 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of the embodimentdisclosed in FIG. 4,

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part of a gaslighter, disclosing a third embodiment thereof,

FIGS. 9 and 10 are longitudinal sectional views of the embodiment shownin FIG. 8, in different operative positions thereof; and FI-gIGg. 11 isa top plan view of the embodiment shown in Referring now to thedrawings, and in particular to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, atank a contains compressed and liquified combustible gas. A valvecylinder b is fitted at its open end to the wall of the tank a andprojected into the tank a at its major part. A movable valve memberscrew 0 is threaded into the inner periphery of the valve cylinder b. Athrough hole 1 is disposed at the bottom face of the valve cylinder b toprovide a communication with the tank a. A resilientmember 2 having acentral hole 2,, which is aligned with the hole 1, is received in thevalve cylinder b. A passage 3 is disposed in axial direction in themovable valve members, and the upper end opening of the passage 3 formsa burner 4. Thus, when the movable valve member c is turned, theresilient member 2 is compressed by the lower end of the movable valvemember 0 to reduce the diameter of the hole 2,, or when the pressureupon the resilient member 2 by the valve member 0 is released, the inneropen diameter of the hole 2,, is restored to its original shape.Accordingly, the discharge gas flux injecting at the burner 4 throughthe central hole 3 is suitably controlled.

On a peripheral part of the movable valve member 0 projecting from theopen end of the valve cylinder b, splines 5 are formed longitudinally.An operating ring d has at its central part of the bottom of a reccessedpart 6 splines 7, disposed in a central hole thereof and in engagementwith the splines 5 of the valve member 0. Consequently, when theoperating ring d is brought into engagement from the side of the burner4 with the movable valve member 0 and also brings about engagement ofthe splines 7 with the splines 5, the injecting gas quantity can beadjusted through the operating ring d by the movable valve member c. Apawl 8 is formed on the operating ring d by cutting and bendingoutwardly along its downward peripheral wall.

The operating ring d can be turned within a range impacting the pawl 8with the side wall 7 of a bearing of a burner cover e provided on tanka.

A coil spring 9 is contained in the recessed part 6 and the coil spring9 is prevented from a further lifting or fall. ing off by means of aWasher 11 and a washer spring 10 which is mounted on an upper part ofthe movable valve member 0. The washer 11 supports the upper part of thecoil spring 9 in its compressed state. In this state, the operating ringd is lowered until its downward peripheral wall is in contact with theupper part of the tank a, or until the bottom surface of the recessedpart 6 engages the upper end of the valve cylinder b, and the spline 7are held in engaging relation with the splines 5. Preferably, the washer11 is dimensioned such as to enter slightly into the recessed part 6 andthe spring washer 10 serves to hold the washer 11 at the same level asthe upper surface of the recessed part 6, so as to improve the externalappearance of all the parts. The other end of the coil spring 9 engagesthe outer bottom surface of the recessed part 6.

The operating ring d can be turned freely without engaging the movablevalve member c, when the splines 7 are released from the splines 5, bylifting the operating ring d, so as to compress the coil spring 9 asshown in FIG. 2.

In accordance with the present invention, the operating ring d is alwaysheld by means of the coil spring 9 to engage the movable valve member c,and consequently any play on the operating ring d or any heavy turningof the operating ring d can be eliminated entirely, notwithstanding theascent and descent of the movable valve member c. It is to be noted thatthe above fact is a true matter in either case of using a freelyturnable operating ring or using a definite range turnable operatingring, especially in the latter case the operating ring may be turned. bylifting once the operating ring against the action of the coil spring soas to release it from the engagement with the movable valve member andthen by lowering it to obtain a fresh engagement with the movable valvememher. In such latter case, the movable valve member of course can beturned over a limited definite range.

Referring now again to the drawings, and in particular to the embodimentshown in FIGS. 4 to 7, a tank a contains compressed and liquefiedcombustible gas. A valve cylinder b is fitted at its open end to thewall of the tank a and projects into the tank a at its major part. Amovable valve member screw c threaded into the inner periphery of thevalve cylinder b is attached thereto in axial direction. A through hole1 is provided at the bottom face of the valve cylinder b incommunication with the tank a. A resilient member 2' having a centralhole 2,, which is aligned with the hole 1 is received in the valvecylinder b. A passage 3' is provided in axial direction in the movablevalve member c, and the upper end of the passage 3' forms a burner 4'.Thus, when the movable valve member is turned, the resilient member 2'is compressed by the lower end of the movable valve member c to reducethe open diameter of the hole 2 or when the compression of the resilientmember 2 by the valve member c is released, the open diameter of thehole 2,, is restored to its original size. Accordingly, the dischargegas flux injecting at the burner 4' through the central hole 3 issuitably control-led.

On a peripheral part of the movable valve member c projecting from theopen end of the valve cylinder b, splines 5 are formed longitudinally.An operating ring d has at its central part a recessed part 6. At thecentral part of the bottom of the recessed part 6, splines 7 form a holeand engage the splines 5, and consequently when the operating ring d isinserted from the side of the burner 4' over the movable valve member 0'an engagement is brought about of the splines 7' with the splines 5',the injecting gas quantity can be adjusted through the operating ring dby the movable valve member c'. A pawl 8' is formed from the operatingring :1, by cutting and bending outwardly along its downward peripheralwall.

The operating ring d can be turned within a range impacting the pawl 8'with the side wall 1" of a bearing of a burner cover e provided on thetank a.

An annular groove 9,, is formed on the upper periphery of the movablevalve member 0' so as to engage a washer 10' which is broken away a partof its periphery, and, thereby, the falling oti of a washer 11' fittedto the movable valve member 0' is prevented. A fitting cavity 12' forembedding the washer 10' is formed in the washer 11. The washer 10' isfitted in the fitting cavity 12' in such manner that the washer 11' ispressed upwardly by means of a coil spring 9 and splines 7' formed inthe hole of the bottom part of the operating ring d engage the splines 5formed on the movable valve member c. Further, the external periphery ofthe washer 11' is formed with a downward skirt 11 and consequently thewasher 11' can be moved axially in the recessed part 6' of the operatingring d without distortion.

As this embodiment is constructed as above described, the movable valvemember c can be turned over a definite limit in which the pawl 8 of theoperating ring d impacts with a side wall f of a bearing for controllingthe dis charge gas fiux injecting from the burner 4'. In such a case, asshown in FIG. 6, the operating ring d is lifted against the action ofthe spring 9', so as to release the engagement of the splines 7' and 5',and the operating ring d can be turned freely relative to the movablevalve member 0'. Thus, when the operating ring d is released, to berestored into its original position, the operating ring d is lowered bythe extending action of the coil spring 9 and the splines 7' engage thesplines 5, and consequently the discharge gas flux can be adjusted overthe definite limitation by a further turning of the operating ring.Further, in this assembling, the operating ring d, the coil spring 9 andthe washer 11' are inserted and fitted from the side of the burner 4'into this lighter in the order as above mentioned and then the washer11' is forced into the recessed part 6', so as to compress the coilspring 9', and, thereafter, the washer 10' may be fitted into theannular groove 9 The above assembly of all the parts is effected in avery simple manner. Thus, as the attached washer 10' is fittedfirmly inthe fitting groove 12', the washer 10' does not fall off entirely.Further, if any difiiculty in the operation arises, or when cleaning isnecessary, the reverse operation of the above assembling operation maybe effected very easily.

Referring now again to the drawing, and in particular to the embodimentshown in FIGS. 8 to 11, splines 5' and splines 7 are formed,respectively, on an inner central hole of the operating ring d and onthe outer periphery of the washer 11 Accordingly, when the operatingring d is turned in a predetermined direction, the movable valve memberc is moved in axial direction. Other parts of this embodiment are thesame as those shown in the first and second embodiments, and theoperation of the third embodiment is substantially the same. Accordingly, the same numerals with an index 2 have been applied to thecorresponding elements.

While we have disclosed three embodiments of the present invention, itis to be understood that these embodiments are given by example only andnot in a limiting sense, the scope of the present invention beingdetermined by the objects and the claims.

What we claim is:

l. A cigarette lighter comprising a tank adapted to receive compressedand liquefied combustible gas,

a hollow valve cylinder immovably mounted in said tank and having abottom and threaded internally,

a valve member having an outer thread engaging said inner thread of saidhollow valve cylinder and being axially movable in said hollow valvecylinder upon relative rotation between said hollow valve cylinder andsaid valve member,

said valve member projecting outwardly from said valve cylinder andhaving a first axial discharge bore extending along the entire length ofsaid valve memher.

a resilient member embedded in the bottom of said valve cylinder andhaving a second axial discharge bore aligned with said first dischargebore,

said bottom of said hollow valve cylinder having a third axial dischargebore aligned with said second axial discharge bore,

an operating ring having a recess defining a bottom wall and acylindrical wall and being open at its top and having an opening in itsbottom to surround the outer portion of said valve member,

said valve member including a washer disposed at its upper portion andhaving a first spline and said operating ring having a second splineengaging said first spline of said valve member,

a coil spring disposed in said recess between said bottom wall of saidoperating ring and said washer and tending to move said operating ringinto engagement with said valve member,

said operating ring being freely turnable upon disengagement of saidsecond spline from said first spline of said valve member,

means preventing said washer from being pushed ofi said valve member,and

said valve member controlling the discharge flow of said liquefiedcombustible gas by turning said operating ring.

2. The valve, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means preventingsaid washer from being pushed oft said valve member comprises a washerspring disposed on the opposite side of said washer from said spring,and

said valve member has an annular outer groove in its upper portionreceiving said washer spring.

3. The valve, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second spline ofsaid operating ring is disposed at said opening of the bottom of thelatter.

4. The valve, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second spline ofsaid operating ring is disposed at the inner face of said cylindricalwall, and

said washer is keyed to said valve member to rotate jointly with thelatter and to perform an axial movement relative to the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,877,798 Briggs et al Sept. 20, 1932 1,975,178 Smith et al. Oct. 2,1934 2,554,754 Prezioso May 29, 1951 2,899,841 Melloy Aug. 18, 1959FOREIGN PATENTS 890,093 France Oct. 25, 1943 215,195 Austria May 25,1961

1. A CIGARETTE LIGHTER COMPRISING A TANK ADAPTED TO RECEIVE COMPRESSEDAND LIQUEFIED COMBUSTIBLE GAS, A HOLLOW VALVE CYLINDER IMMOVABLY MOUNTEDIN SAID TANK AND HAVING A BOTTOM AND THREADED INTERNALLY, A VALVE MEMBERHAVING AN OUTER THREAD ENGAGING SAID INNER THREAD OF SAID HOLLOW VALVECYLINDER AND BEING AXIALLY MOVABLE IN SAID HOLLOW VALVE CYLINDER UPONRELATIVE ROTATION BETWEEN SAID HOLLOW VALVE CYLINDER AND SAID VALVEMEMBER, SAID VALVE MEMBER PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID VALVE CYLINDERAND HAVING A FIRST AXIAL DISCHARGE BORE EXTENDING ALONG THE ENTIRELENGTH OF SAID VALVE MEMBER, A RESILIENT MEMBER EMBEDDED IN THE BOTTOMOF SAID VALVE CYLINDER AND HAVING A SECOND AXIAL DISCHARGE BORE ALIGNEDWITH SAID FIRST DISCHARGE BORE, SAID BOTTOM OF SAID HOLLOW VALVECYLINDER HAVING A THIRD AXIAL DISCHARGE BORE ALIGNED WITH SAID SECONDAXIAL DISCHARGE BORE, AN OPERATING RING HAVING A RECESS DEFINING ABOTTOM WALL AND A CYLINDRICAL WALL AND BEING OPEN AT ITS TOP AND HAVINGAN OPENING IN ITS BOTTOM TO SURROUND THE OUTER PORTION OF SAID VALVEMEMBER, SAID VALVE MEMBER INCLUDING A WASHER DISPOSED AT ITS UPPERPORTION AND HAVING A FIRST SPLINE AND SAID OPERATING RING HAVING ASECOND SPINE ENGAGING SAID FIRST SPLINE OF SAID VALVE MEMBER, A COILSPRING DISPOSED IN SAID RECESS BETWEEN SAID BOTTOM WALL OF SAIDOPERATING RING AND SAID WASHER AND TENDING TO MOVE SAID OPERATING RINGINTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID VALVE MEMBER, SAID OPERATING RING BEING FREELYTURNABLE UPON DISENGAGEMENT OF SAID SECOND SPLINE FROM SAID FIRST SPLINEOF SAID VALVE MEMBER, MEANS PREVENTING SAID WASHER FROM BEING PUSHED OFFSAID VALVE MEMBER, AND SAID VALVE MEMBER CONTROLLING THE DISCHARGE FLOWOF SAID LIQUEFIED COMBUSTIBLE GAS BY TURNING SAID OPERATING RING.